What Is the Pay Scale for a Surgical Tech?
Surgical technologists or surgical techs are medical professionals who assist surgeons and nurses in the operating room. They are responsible for setting up the room prior to any procedure by laying out instruments and hanging drapes. During the procedure, the pass and hold instruments as needed, and once the operation is complete, they clean and sterilize all tools.
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Work Experience
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Surgical technologist salaries depend largely upon how much work experience they have. In August 2009, technologists with less than a year of experience earned $25,145 to $34,176, while those with one to four years of work experience earned an average salary of $28,325 to $40,670. The average salary range for five to nine years of experience was $34,861 to $46,981. From years 10 to 19, technologists averaged salaries of $36,031 to $55,091. Once he worked in the field for 20 years or more, a surgical tech had the potential to earn a maximum salary of $59,493.
Employer Type
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The type of employer also effected average salary ranges in August 2009. Private practices paid the highest maximum salaries at $55,000, but also the lowest starting salaries, which were $28,284. Colleges and universities paid one of the highest starting salaries at $35,000. One of the lowest paying employers of surgical technologists was the federal government, which paid techs an average of $24,110 to $43,588.
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Certification
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Though voluntary, some surgical technologists hold specialized certification. For instance, the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist designates Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) status for techs who complete required educational courses and pass a written examination. Average salaries for CSTs were $25,828 to $41,505 in August 2009. In addition, the National Surgical Assistant Association provides Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) status for techs who receive letters of recommendation from surgeons and successfully complete an exam. In 2009, CSAs earned an average annual salary of $35,425 to $48,484.
Industry and Specialty
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In August 2009, industry and specialty also influenced the pay scale of surgical techs. Orthopedic surgery was the highest paying area for techs, with salaries of $30,837 to $58,958. Plastic surgery specialties paid $28,478 to $52,925, while the U.S. military paid between $21,000 and $36,407.
Education
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The highest paid technologists in August 2009 held associate of science degrees, earning $40,976 to $76,250, while those with associate of applied science degrees earned between $32,427 and $50,868. Techs with surgical technology training offered through a trade or medical training program were the lowest paid at $30,083 to $40,446.
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